Raises and bonuses totaling nearly $41 million for police officers with the LAPD are still scheduled to be paid, despite the economic crisis brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City Council signed off on the new LAPD "education incentives" last summer, which calls for an extra $190 every two weeks for officers who hold associates degrees and an extra $290 every two weeks for officers holding bachelors degrees.
The education bonuses were scheduled to begin last month just as projected tax revenues plummeted as a result of lockdown orders brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
The contract including the 4.1 percent raise was part of a deal reached between the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents rank-and-file officers, and the city, the Times reported.
According to Garcetti's deputy chief of staff, Matt Szbao, the raises are necessary in order to keep officers' pay in line with those at other public-safety agencies.
The bonuses were first approved by the City Council in August, when the economy was still going strong and the coronavirus was unknown.
The city has planned to chop budgets across most departments in the city, however, the city has not asked the union to postpone the promised raises and bonuses.
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